New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2“Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, Because of the turmoil within me.

2This is why my unsettling thoughts compel me to answer, because I am upset!

3I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, And the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.

3I have heard a rebuke that insults me, and my understanding makes me reply.

4“Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth,

4Don't you know that ever since antiquity, from the time a human was placed on earth,

5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?

5the joy of the wicked has been brief and the happiness of the godless has lasted only a moment?

6Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, And his head reaches to the clouds,

6Though his arrogance reaches heaven, and his head touches the clouds,

7Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’

7he will vanish forever like his own dung. Those who know him will ask, "Where is he?"

8He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; Yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.

8He will fly away like a dream and never be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night.

9The eye that saw him will see him no more, Nor will his place behold him anymore.

9The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his household will no longer see him.

10His children will seek the favor of the poor, And his hands will restore his wealth.

10His children will beg from the poor, for his own hands must give back his wealth.

11His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But it will lie down with him in the dust.

11His frame may be full of youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in dust.

12“Though evil is sweet in his mouth, And he hides it under his tongue,

12Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,

13Though he spares it and does not forsake it, But still keeps it in his mouth,

13though he cherishes it and will not let it go but keeps it in his mouth,

14Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him.

14yet the food in his stomach turns into cobras' venom inside him.

15He swallows down riches And vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.

15He swallows wealth but must vomit it up; God will force it from his stomach.

16He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue will slay him.

16He will suck the poison of cobras; a viper's fangs will kill him.

17He will not see the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and cream.

17He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and curds.

18He will restore that for which he labored, And will not swallow it down; From the proceeds of business He will get no enjoyment.

18He must return the fruit of his labor without consuming it; he doesn't enjoy the profits from his trading.

19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, He has violently seized a house which he did not build.

19For he oppressed and abandoned the poor; he seized a house he did not build.

20“Because he knows no quietness in his heart, He will not save anything he desires.

20Because his appetite is never satisfied, he does not let anything he desires escape.

21Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore his well-being will not last.

21Nothing is left for him to consume; therefore, his prosperity will not last.

22In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress; Every hand of misery will come against him.

22At the height of his success distress will come to him; the full weight of misery will crush him.

23When he is about to fill his stomach, God will cast on him the fury of His wrath, And will rain it on him while he is eating.

23When he fills his stomach, God will send his burning anger against him, raining it down on him while he is eating.

24He will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce him through.

24If he flees from an iron weapon, an arrow from a bronze bow will pierce him.

25It is drawn, and comes out of the body; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon him;

25He pulls it out of his back, the flashing tip out of his liver. Terrors come over him.

26Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. An unfanned fire will consume him; It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent.

26Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned by human hands will consume him; it will feed on what is left in his tent.

27The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.

27The heavens will expose his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.

28The increase of his house will depart, And his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath.

28The possessions in his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God's anger.

29This is the portion from God for a wicked man, The heritage appointed to him by God.”

29This is the wicked person's lot from God, the inheritance God ordained for him.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.